Swimming-glove.



GLOVE.

LED SEP?.

GEFBGE VIRNEBURG, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINS.

SWIMMING-GLOVE.

Application filed September 7, 1915.

T 0 all-whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE VIRNEBURG, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at 1713 Burling street, in the city of Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Swimming-Gloves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for assisting swimmers in forcing their way through water and particularly to devices of this class which are adapted to be fitted upon the hands of the'swimmers.

The objects of the invention are to produce, a simple, inexpensive and durable device which may be easily and quickly fitted upon or removed from the hands of a swimmer, which is flexible to permit the hand to open or close and the fingers to be spread from each other, to so construct the device that the swimming surface of the glove will be longer and wider than the hand, and to make provision for the easy removal of any water that may collect in the glove. These and other objects I accomplish as hereinafter described in the following specification and as particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which an embodiment of myi improved glove is shown.

j In the drawings Figure 1, represents an inside elevation or plan view of my improved glove with thel fingers straightened out but in close parallel and unspread position. Fig. 2, is an inside elevation or plan View of the glove similar to Fig. 1, with the fingers outstretched and also spread'widely from each other. Fig. 3, is an enlarged transverse section through a fragment of the glove on line`3-3 Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is a.

fragmentary enlarged section taken longitudinally through the outer portion of one of the fingers of the glove on line 4 4 Fig. 2. Fig. 5, is an enlarged fragmentary end view of one of the fingers of the glove looking in the direction of the arrow X in Fig. 2.

In referring to the embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanying drawing-: in detail, like numerals indicate correspond ng parts.

My improved glove is preferably formed, molded or otherwise constructed of a single piece of suitable elastic material such as rubber and comprises a wrist portion 1, back and palm portions 2, and 3, a tubular thumb portion lf, and finger portions 5, 6, 7, and 8.

' l Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

serial No. 49,204.

The thumb and finger portions vary slightly I the marginal sides of the slit may be lapped and the fastener members sprung and .snapped together to securely hold the glove in place. A web 12 of thin elastic material 1s extended between each of the four fingers and also between the first finger and the thumb which serves to close the space between the fingers in much the same manner as the web in a ducks foot.

To increase the area of the swimming surface I, prefer to provide tips 13, of a curved form as shown in Fig. which fit around the extremities of the fingers of a hand when the glove is in place thereon .and 'project outward therefrom. These tip-sl are at practically a right angle to the web as shown in Fig. 5, and are of sufficiently stiff material to support and maintain the outer portion of the web in position. The surface area is also further increased on the side edge of the glove opposite the thumb by a lateral stiffening extensioxn14, which supports and maintains a web 15, in flat extended position. The web, 15, as shown in Fig. 2, extends from the outer' side of the little finger to the extension 14, and from thence to the inner end of the glove terminating at the inner extremity of the wrist portion.

A large opening 16, is preferably provided in the palm of the glove for the easy removal of any water that may collect in the glove. I also prefer to form small slits or openings 17, in the glove at points between the fingers and the thumb. These small openings render the glove more flexible, permit the fingers to be spread more easily and allow any water that may enter the glove to escape. The openings 17, are closed by the intervening fiesh of the hand when the glove is fitted in place. The slits or openings, 17;, are formed in the material of the glove body and on opposite sides of the web 12, but do not extend through the web as will be noted by referring to Fig. 2 in which the web is seen below the cut. These slits are so formed that they are opened by the spreading apart or separation-of the fingers as in Fig. 2 and closed by the closing of the fingers as in Fig. 1.

ile I have illustrated and described a preferred form of construction'for carrying,

myinvention into effect, this is capable of a Widen range of variation, aiteration, modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the construction herein shown and described,`but desire to avail myself of all such variations, alterations, modifications and changes as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims or may be construed to be within the scope thereof 'by involving the doctrine of equi\'a lents.

What I claim as my invention to secure by Letters Patent is z- 1.*A glove of the class described, comprising a hollow body portion, a series of finger portions extending from said body portion, and flexible webs extending beand desire tween the finger portions, said bodyV portion being provided with narrow slits between the inner extremities of the finger portions which are adapted to be open when the finger portions are spread apart and Closed thumb, and a Afrom said body on il when the finger portions are brought together.

2. A glove of the class described, comprising a hollow body portion, a series of finger portions'extending from the body portion, flexible webs extending between the finger portions, said webs extending outward from the juncture of the finger portions with the body portion and beyond the outer estremiA ties of the 'finger' portions, and reinforcii T tips on the finger portions supporting the parts of the webs bey-ond the finger e ties, said tips being in a plane at rigi` gles to the webs. y

3. A glove of the class described, towing' :i body provided with fingers and'thumb, web swimming surface extending between the fingers and also having a part thereof extending between the first finger and part ext-ending laterally from the body on the side opp'.c the tl'imnh'and a stiffening extendng s ejection lateraliy il f side opposite the e web part on that thumb for supporting if: side of said body.

In testimony whereof I have this da); set

my hand.

GEORG-:E VIRNEBURG. 

